Machine for making shells for automobile heaters and the like



y 931. T. H. ROBERTS ET AL ,805,261

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHELLS FOR AUTOMOBILE HEATERS AND THE LIKE INVENTORS'5 Tfiwwas/Lfiaberts r7121)? if. #0277? as ATTORNEYS "May 12, 1931. "r.H. ROBERTS ET AL ,805,261

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHELLS FOR AUTOMOBILHHEATERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec.51, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N .Ign: W

M 'II A a "a INVENTORS 7747/1 as /Z 4 Faars Jain 75 #0277165 ATTO RN EYSPatented May 12, 1931 ?TET FECE THOI/{AS H. ROBERTS AND JOHN R.EZLGLMES, F: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS T0 JAMES W. KFL

MACHINE FOR MAKING- SHELLS F523 Application filed leeenihe Thisinvention relates to machines for making shells for automobile heatersand the like and consists of certain novel features of constructioncombinations and arrang ments of parts as will be more fully describedand particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine made in accordance with thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the machine; and

Figures 4 to 7 are sections taken on lines l l, 55, 66, and 77respectively of F igure 1.

Generally our invention comprises a ma chine for rolling and bending asheet of material into the approximate form of the shell 3 provided alsowith means for holding the sheet while looking ends of the sheet, saidmachine also being provided with means for supporting the sheet after ithas been rolled so that a seaming tool may be moved over the ends of thesh et to form the finished shell.

Specifically the numeral 1 designates generally, our shell formingmachine including 301 a frame 2 and a longitudinally extending stationar1 shaft 3 supported upon said frame. uitahly journalled upon the innerend of the shaft 3 is a mandrel 4 provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 5 terminating intermediate the ends thereof. For rotatingthe mandrel there is provided the reduction gearing 6 connecting thesame to a shaft '7 upon which are loosely mounted drive pulleys 8 and 9respectively. These pulleys are connected to the shaft 7 by means of theclutch 10 for driving the shaft in opposite directions. Preferably anoperating handle 11 is pivotally mounted on the frame and is connectedto the clutch for throwing the same into and out of operative engagementwith one or the other of the pulleys.

Mounted on the shaft 3 at one side of the mandrel 4, are a pair ofadjustably spaced positioning blocks 12 which are preferably 5 roundedto conform to the curvature of the 1, Like.

0F DETROIT, MIST- EGAN A'R'ITOMGBILE HEATER-S AND THE LIKE Serial Zl'o.329,519.

sheet of material after it has been rolled into the approximate form ofthe shell by means of the mandrel a. Each sheet 13 before it is placedin the machine, preferably has its longitudinal edges crimped in themanner clearly shown in Figure 5. Before throwing in the clutch 10 tooperate the mandrel, one of the crimped ends is first placed in the slot5. This positions the sheet relative to the mandrel and preventsdisengagement thereof during the rolling operation. Upon rotation of themandrel the sheet is rolled thereon and is guided in this movement bymeans of an adjustable guide roller let. Each sheet is previously cut tosuch a size that one revolution of the mandrel will roll the same to theapproximate size of the shell and when the sheet has reached theposition shown in Figure 5, the mandrel is stopped and the crimped endportions of the rolled sheet are interlocked by means of a manualoperation. The sheet is then removed from the mandrel and slipped overthe positioning blocks 12 with the crimped end portions resting upon thetop of the shaft 3. A pivoted stop member 14 is mounted on the shaft andis adapted to be engaged by one end of the rolled sheet for correctlypositioning the same longitudinally of the blocks.

lVit-h the sheet thus positioned upon the shaft, a seaming tool 15 isadapted to be moved over the top thereof into direct engagement with thecrimped end portions to apply pressure thereto and form a suitable seam.This tool comprises a carriage 16 slidably mounted upon a channel-shapedhousing 17 which is spaced from and extends longitudinally of the shaft3. Depending from the lower end of the carriage are a pair of pressurerollers 18 adapted to be moved over the end portions of each rolledsheet for applying pressure thereto in forming the seam.

For actuating the tool 15 there is mounted within the housing 17 asprocket chain 19 supported between sprockets 20 and 21 respectively-Suitably journalled in the carriage 16 is a stub shaft 2:2 provided atits inner end with a lug 2-3 adapted to be moved into and out ofengagement with the links 100 into and out of operative the shaft '4.

of 2%. This handle is connected to the or of the stub shaft 22 andnormally engageable with a rod during the movement of the seaming toolupon the housing, the rod 25 functioning to retain the lug in operativeengagement with the sprocket chain. The lug 23 just referred to isdesigned to connect the carriage to the chain whereby as the latter isactuated, the carriage will be moved longitudinally of the sha t 3 toeffect the seaming operation.

For actuating the chain 19 there is provided a shaft 26 having a pinion27 meshing with a gear 28 which is in turn mounted on the sprocket shaft29. Loosely mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 26, is a bevelgear 30 meshing with a the sprocket chain by means of a handle iter endcorresponding gear 31, the latter being r 'idly mounted on the shaft 7.A clutch is mounted on the shaft 26 and is adapted to throw the latterengagement with This clutch has a yoke member 33 provided with anextension 3% rigidly 'secured to a rod 35, the i r be ng pivotallymounted upon the frame and provided with an operating handle 36.

After a sheet has been rol d upon the mandrel and is placed in positionfor the seaming operation, the handle 235 is actuated to connect theshaft 26 with the shaft 7. The handle 11 is then moved to throw theclutch 10 into engagement with the pulley 9 wh ereupon the shaf" 26 willactuate the sprocket chain in a direction to move the seaming tool 15 tothe right of the position shown in Figure 1 and into engagement with theends of the rolled sheet. hen the tool has fully travelled from one endof the sheet to the other, the handle 11 is then actuated to throw theclutch out of engagement with the pulley 9 and into engagement with thepulley 8, thus reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 7 andlikewise that of the shaft 26 and of the chain whereby the tool is againmoved over the sheet in the opposite direction. It will be noted thatthe rod 25 is supported its free end upon a pin 37 projeeti 2; outwardlyfrom the carriage 16 and which slidably engages the rod as the seamingtool is moved along the housing. The e2; icme free end of the rod isprovided with a downwardly extending flange 38 while the other end ispivotally connected to a cross rod 39 which in turn is connected to thelever 11 means of the rod 40. It will thus be apparent that with theclutch 10 in engagement with the pulley 8, during the return movement ofthe tool, the pin 37 will eventually enga e the flange 3S and effect amovement of t .e rod 25. This will also actuate the handle 11 and throwthe clutch out of engagement with the pulley 8 and into its neutralposition, thus shutting off the power from the shaft 7 and the chain 19.This arrangement thereby constitutes means for automatically stoppingthe return movement of the seaming tool after the same has moved out ofengagement with one of the finished shells.

There is also provided means for facilitating the manual step ofinterlocking the crimped ends of the sheet after the rolling operationis completed. This means constitutes a pair of bars il pivotally mountedon the frame and adapted to have their lower end portions moved into andout of engagement with the sheet. By actuating the handle 12 just beforethe final movement of the man drel, the ends of the bars will be movedinto engagement with the sheet and will be directed into the openportion of the free crimped end of the sheet, thus retaining this end ofthe rolled sheet in engagen'ient with the mandrel while the operatordisengages the other crin ped end from the slot'5 and slips the sameover the first mentioned end. lVhen this is accomplished the bars may bemovedout of engagement with the sheet and the latter removed in themanner above described. The

endof the shaft 3 is mounted in'a supporting member L3, this memberbeing pivotally mounted upon the outer end of thehousing 17 in such amanner that the former may be swung clear of the .end of the shaftpermitting the same to drop down slightly and thereby allow the finishedshell to be slipped elf the end of the shaft. When this is accomplished,the member may again be moved back to the position shown in Figurelwhere- 7 upon the crimped end of a new sheet of material may be slippedinto the slot 5 and the forming operation again repeated. There is alsoprovided a guiding track d4: for the rollers 18 when the seaming tool isin its inperative position, this track being mounted on the housing 17and merely resting upon the outer end of the shaft 3 so that the lattermay be moved out of engagement with the track when the member lSis swungabout its pivot and thereby permit the completedshell to he slipped offof the shaft.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have provided a'novelform of machine whereby a sheet of material may be easily andquicklyformed into a shell such as those used for automobile heaters orthe like; furthermore, that the control means for effecting thisoperation is such that it can be easily actuated by a single operator.

What We claim as our invention is:

'1. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters,means-including a mandrel for bending a sheet of material into theapproximate form of the shell, a support for the mandrelhaving a portionprojecting beyond one end of the mandrel for supporting the sheet afterthe bending operation, and means movable longitudinally of thesupporting form the finished shell.

2. In a machine for making shells for au tomobile heaters, a mandrelupon which a sheet of material is adapted to be rolled into theapproximate form of the shell, means for rotating the mandrel, astationary support for the mandrel having a portion projecting beyondbut in alignment with the mandrel for supporting the bent sheet afterremoval from the mandrel, and means movable longitudinally of thesupporting means for seaming the ends of the sheet to form the finishedshell.

3. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, and means for seaming the ends of the sheet to form thefinished shell.

4. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, and means for seaming the ends of the sheet to form thefinished shell, said means including a carriage movable longitudinallyof said shaft and rollers carried by said carriage and engageable withthe aforesaid ends of the sheet.

5. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, and means for seaming the ends of the sheet to form thefinished shell, said means including a carriage supported upon themachine above said shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, and rollersdepending from said carriage and movable over the aforesaid ends of thesheet.

6. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means for rotating said mandrel, means on said shaft forsupporting the sheet after removal from said mandrel, a seaming toolmovable longitudinally of said shaft for engaging the ends of the sheet,and means for actuating said tool.

7. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means for rotating sald mandrel, means on said shaft forsupporting the sheet after removal from said mandrel, a seaming toolmovable longitudinally of said shaft for engaging the ends of the sheet,and means associated with said mandrel rotating means for actuating saidtool.

8. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, a housing spaced from and extending substantially parallelto said shaft, a sprocket chain mounted in said housing, and a seamingtool associated with said chain and movable thereby longitudinally ofsaid shaft into and out of engagement with the ends of the sheet.

9. In a machine for making shells for aut0- mobile heaters, astationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft andadapted to receive and bend a sheet of material into the approximateform of the shell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet afterremoval from said mandrel, a housing spaced from and extendingsubstantially par allel to said shaft, a sprocket chain mounted in saidhousing, a seaming tool slidably mounted on said housing, and meansconnecting said tool to said chain whereby the former is moved into andout of engagement with the ends of the sheet.

10. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel j ournalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, a housing spaced from and extending substantially parallelto said shaft, a sprocket chain mounted in said housing, a seaming toolassociated with said chain and movable thereby longitudinally of saidshaft into and out of engagement with the ends of the sheet, and acommon operating means for said mandrel and chain.

11. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel ournalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, a housing spaced from and extending substantially parallelto said shaft, :1 sprocket chain mounted in said housing, a seaming toolslidably mounted on said housing, and means connecting said tool to saidchain whereby the former is moved into and out of engagement with theends of the sheet, said means including a stub shaft provided with alug, and a handle upon the outer end of the shaft for moving the luginto and out of engagement with said chain.

12. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft, and providedwith a longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive an end of asheet of mate 'ial, means for rotating said in idrel to effect a bendingof the sheet into the approximate form of the shell, means on said shaftfor supporting the sheet after removal from said mandrel, and means forseaming the ends of the sheet to form the finished shell.

13. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel jonrnalled upon said shaft and provided witha longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive an end of a sheet ofmaterial, means for rotating said mandrel to effect a bendim of thesheet into the approximate form or the shell, means for guiding andretaining the sheet upon the mandrel during the bending operation, meanson said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal from said mandrel,and means for seaming the ends of the sheet to form the finished shell.

let. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, a stationarysupporting shaft, a mandrel journalled upon said shaft and adapted toreceive and bend a sheet of material into the approximate form of theshell, means on said shaft for supporting the sheet after removal fromsaid mandrel, a housing spaced from and extending substantially parallelto said shaft, a seaming tool slidably mounted on said housing andmovable longitudinally of said shaft into and out of engagement with theends of the sheet, and a supporting member for the free end of saidshaft pivotally mounted on said housing whereby the member may be swungclear of the shaft for permitting the removal of the finished shell.

15. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, meansincluding a mandrel for bending a sheet of material into the approximateform of the shell, a support for the mandrel having means at one sideand substantially in alignment with the bending means for supporting thesheet after the bending operation, and means movable longitudinally ofthe supporting means for pressing together portions of the bent sheet ofmaterial to form the finished shell.

16. In a machine for making shells for automobile heaters, meansincluding a mandrel for bending a sheet of material into the approximateform of the shell, a support for the mandrel having a portion extendinglaterally from the bending means for supporting the sheet after thebending operation and permitting the sheet to be shifted from thebending means 011 to the supporting means without leaving the machine,and means associated with the supporting means for pressto the memberaforesaid, and means movable longitudinally of the last-mentioned memberand having m ans for pressing together porillOi s of bent shell on thefirst-mentioned member to form the finished shell.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOHN R. HOLMES. In. testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS H. ROBERTS.

